New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-07
Mr., HARTS RUINED 1CE-PoND
HIS $4,000 CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

WHAT Mr.. DYRMAN WILL REPORT TO Mr. IAcoNBB
lis THIS 4 SAMPLE AoUEDUCr cAsEf
The progress Of the now Aqueduct has produced
the usual crop Of claims for damages which spring
up with big public undertakings Various persons
In Westchester County are trying to get what
mounts up to the considerable total of $780, 900
from tho city. One of the claimants is George Hart
who some time ago sent In demand for SIC. 900,
on the ground that oil. SCOT and smoke had 70 in
jured his ice pond at Tarrytown Heights that his
business was well-nigh broken up II. Y. Dykman,
of White Plains, to whom Corporation Counsel
Lacombe has turned over the claims had his Srs-
picions aroused and went to work to sif Mr.. Harts
pretensions thoroughly. He will make his report
to Mr.. Lacombe to-day.
Between May z, 1886, the date of the visit of tho
Commissioners Of Appraisal to Harts premises in
Mount Pleasant, and November IA. Mr.. Dykman
made number of private visits Of inquiry at Tar
rytown. On the latter date, as on October IL
and "a, he examined Harris premises carefully
when the owner-who Is q leading Presbyterian,
and accounted highly respectable member of the
community-was at church He found enough to
confirm his suspicious, and. beng directed by Mr..
Lacombe to spare neither time nor expense in de-
feating the claim, both for the sake Of the money
and for the example, he called on Pinkerton and
secured the assistance Of Detective John S. Wood.
A few days afterward, as Mr.. Hart was reading
his fayorie Tarrytown paper at breakfast, he came
across the following advertisement:
ans Scaed Within
% shs @ aps oa o
station and distance from same condition o water during ae
s'SS 7os. New.York W City.
Mr.. Hart unsuspectirgy swallowed the bait and
Mr.. Dykman proceeded TO land him. To Box 70S
there came letter. signed G. Hart. describing an
l,,a,, f,ln
dItions. The water was described as of p" first
quality, having been analyzed this summer"
Mr. Hart duly received reply from one George
d. Ennis and pr0tracted business correspondence
ensued, in the course of which Mr.. Hart repeatedly
assured his supposed customer OF the superior
quality and purity Of the water in his pend. 1t
also came out that so far from being damaged by
the action of the city and driven from his home.
Hart was collecting from twelve tenants yearly
rental OF So 900. By-and-by George ID. Ennis"
determined to bring matters to head, and wrote
to Mr. Hart on February ~ that he would come
and sec him or send substitute.
On February 81 Mr.. Hart received his expected
visitor. He was faultessly dressed, well-fed
man. who looked as if be found the world pleasant
place to live in. He introduced himself asa brother,
in-law of George ID. Ennis" When Hart found
that the stranger wasn't connected with New-fork
City, he began to bull his pond freely Inc he
that the business was to be purchased.
"Why," said Mr.. Hart, " there is no ice in the
market that half equals minew
Presently the unknown visitor took his leave;
promising to call again next day. He went straight
to Tarrytowu village and gathered some more in
teresting facts about Mr. Hart-among Others. that
he had Dragged that he could have $500 from
the company which was about supply the town
with water.
The visitor from George d. Ennis returned to
| Tarrytown on Washingons Birthday. and, along
with Mr.. Hart. made a careful examination OF his
whole property. Hart again talked freely about
his pure Ice. Is never had nicer ice he remarked,
than have stored IN the house this wiuter"
| Yesterday unsuspectng Mr.. Hart appeared before
the cItys con mission for the adjustment OF CLAIMS
| with his witnesses, prepared to make good night
| for his $4,000 In due course he went on tho
stand and was confronted by Mr. Dykman, alias
Mr. Dykman at once brought his big
| guns to bear on the enemy. MI.
| Hart have You ever heard this advertisement be-
fore ~ said be- and quoted it as it Appeared in the
! organ patronized by the claimant
| "Why yes" gasped the witness.
And these letters 7" proceeded the counsel, not
giving him time to recover -, NJ,
But before no got through with them, slr. Hart
and his case collapsed together. The sudden reye,
! lation of the identity OF Counsel Dyk'nan and
| George ID. Ennis was too much for him; aud whcn
| he further realized that the unknown visitor had
been in Mr. Dykmans employ, he was dumb
founded and quite unable to proceed with his tes-
| tlmony The commissioners themselves were snr-
| prlsed Hart asked for an adjournment OIL one
| week and SO got a chance to recover hIDseh